Lunar excavation and projectile transport systems and methods

US11828178B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• OSHKOSH CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Annelise L. Kotenberg · Oshkosh, US
• Alex Bare · Oshkosh, US
• Christian Becker · Ratingen, DE
• Mark J. Charniak · Neenah, US
• Zac Hassman · Oshkosh, US
• Jacob Klaameyer · Oshkosh, US
• Nick Winter · Oshkosh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 16, 2022
• Grant date: Nov 28, 2023
• Expiry date: Jun 16, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC E): Fixed Constructions
• CPC primary: E21B41/00
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A lunar excavation and projectile transport system includes a projectile launcher having a base and a throwing arm and a projectile catcher. The throwing arm is rotatably coupled to the base and arranged at a mounting angle relative to a central axis defined by the base. The mounting angle defines a lunch angle for a processed core sample that is launched from within the throwing arm during rotation of the throwing arm by an electric motor. The projectile catcher includes a storage body, a plurality of telescoping arms coupled to the storage body, and a fabric wrapped around each of the plurality of telescoping arms to define a catching volume within which the processed core sample launched by the projectile launcher is caught.